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Bizarre Phobias
Tom wrote to ask about the reality of a site called The Phobia Clinic. At first glance, the site definitely looks like it represents a real business that's selling a program to help people overcome their fears. The strangeness comes when you dig into some of the fears that they claim they can cure, and you have to wonder... do such fears or anxieties really exist? For example, they can cure you of Arachibutyrophobia (that's a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth), Ballistophobia (a fear of bullets... but why would anyone want to overcome their fear of bullets? Isn't that a good thing to be afraid of?), Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words... the name of the anxiety alone probably sends sufferers into convulsions), and the list goes on and on. Despite all the weird anxieties, I think that the Phobia Clinic is real enough, in the sense that they'll take your money and offer some kind of 'cure.' But I'm skeptical about whether their cure actually works.
Categories: Psychology
Posted by Alex on Fri Nov 21, 2003
Comments (449)
More from the Hoax Museum Archives:
I also have the fear of touching wet paper. Any kind of paper that is wet absolutely grosses me out and really disgusts me. I can though touch the paper if I have gloves on. My friends gave me the nickname hydopapryophobe for my fear because its the fear of water and paper combined.
Posted by Hydropapryophobe  on  Mon Jan 09, 2006  at  10:45 AM
I am terrified of spines! Everytime I think about it I get all tensed up and want to throw up. I don't know how it started, but just the sight of skinny people bending over and their spines showing through their skin gross me out. Just typing this is making me sick! Also, I don't like achilles tendons. The thought of them makes me sick and I always think they are going to snap and it makes me sick! Is this an awkward phobia, or do other people not like spines or achilles tendons either?
Posted by Dana Casbon  on  Tue Jan 17, 2006  at  05:34 PM
I have an odd fear of sheets. I cant bear the thought of them touching my skin or anything. Also I strongly dislike white pillowcases... anyone know the name of this?
Posted by Twinky  on  Mon Jan 23, 2006  at  04:40 PM
When I was a kid, I had a fear touching scratchy towels, and scratchy material, and also people chewing on fabric, like kids at school chewing on their sweater sleeves, :ahhh: it used to make me want to scream and pull my hair out. Does anyone have any idea what that would be called?
Posted by Kirsty  on  Fri Feb 17, 2006  at  02:35 AM
I saw a pickle-phobe on Maury, and an online article says she's a real Sioux Falls waitress - but c'mon, pickles? Besides, a crew member walked right past her with a huge tray of pickles right after she ran screaming from the stage, and she didn't even flinch.
My b.f. freaks out if he sees anyone touch a Kleenex with wet hands.
Posted by sme  on  Sat Feb 18, 2006  at  08:01 AM
does anybody know the name of a fear of foam or styrofoam?
Posted by cecile  on  Sat Feb 18, 2006  at  06:22 PM
I have a fear of midgets. I always dream that they are chasing me, in the hundreds. I think you could call the styrofoam fear "Styrophobia" or "Styrophomia", I don't know make something up.

I have a fear of computers too. Wait..ahhhhhhhhhh!

I know a person who had a fear of hair and shaves his head bald and well.... his whole body.
EVEN THE EYEBROWS. He looks really odd of course.
Posted by Carter S  on  Sun Feb 19, 2006  at  12:25 AM
I am deathly afraid of little people. I have panic attacks when i am near one, to the exstrem of hypovenalating and crying. I cant move i ant to run away but cant! I really feel bad about it but can't help it. When i see them i have dreams about them chasing me for the next few days. when i see them on t.v. i have to jsut walk away or stop looking because i will get creeped out. I know i am not the only one who has a fear of them but yet i cant find out any info on my "condition" or whatever you want to call it. If anyone knows the name of the condition or have any advice let me know please! thanks
Posted by Belinda Oertel  on  Mon Feb 20, 2006  at  01:01 AM
i seem to have a fear of scratching on a chalkboard. when ever i see one, my back shivers!
what should i do?
Posted by Caitlyn  on  Sat Mar 11, 2006  at  08:11 PM
i also have a fear of spiders!
they make me fear like i'm about to through-up!
anyone have any sugestions?
Posted by Caitlyn  on  Sat Mar 11, 2006  at  08:15 PM
im only fifteen,
but i have so many bizarre phobias.
first is styrofoam i cannot touch it.
its the grossest feeling, and makes a disgusting noise.
i also cant stand aluminum foil,
cotton balls, nail polish remover.
i cant stand when people look at my neck,
it makes me freak out, and yell.
and if they touch my knees, i cry.
because i think my kneecaps gonna shatter
into likea million pieces, or something
i cant stand when my hands are wet; and wrinkle up
and ever since i was real little. i would hold my hands in fists.
until they dried.
i dont like to touch paper, or yellow pencils.
its annoying, because everywhere i go,
im always asking for a different cup, or somehting.
my sister helps out.
she'll touch anything styrofoam for me.
and at restaurants she always takes my paper placemat away.
and the paper on straws and napkin holder-things.

eh; i cant stand that.
if anyone else shares these bizarre phobias, write back.
Posted by Abby  on  Sun Mar 12, 2006  at  12:32 AM
I can not STAND styrofoam....or cardboard...I can be around it, but at work they ask me to fold them up and carry the boxes and I just cant...

I also HATE the feeling of really anything on my feet except carpet and some fabrics. I cant stand felt on my feet, or hardwood floors or some other things, gives me chills....
Posted by Sydney  on  Mon Mar 27, 2006  at  10:01 PM
lollypopguildophobia is the fear of midgets. They may be small but i can spot one in a crowded market and cross the road or turn down side streets to avoid crossing the path and having them look at me.I am a grown man nearly 40 and they reduce me to a wreck
Posted by alan  on  Mon Apr 03, 2006  at  01:35 PM
Does anyone know what the name is for a fear of cardboard???
Posted by Heidi Veeder  on  Tue Apr 04, 2006  at  05:30 PM
Here you go everyone: http://www.phobialist.com
Posted by Ian  on  Thu Apr 13, 2006  at  12:48 AM
ok well it's not really a fear of paper... it's a fear of paper scratching against itself, if that makes sense. whenever i hear the noise i can't stand it and i take the persons paper away. i get really anxious and really scared. if it goes on for too long i feel physically sick...


also, i can't stand someone ripping or rubbing something through styrofoam. or the squeakiness of it...

but the paper thing has been with me since i can remember...
Posted by jarrod  on  Tue Apr 25, 2006  at  10:11 PM
I HATE COASTERS!!!! YES YES YES FOR THE WET PAPER THING WOW I AM NOT ALONE!!! and isn't it so so so so awful when like a waitress gives you a cup and SETS IN ON YOUR NAPKIN! i just want to strangle her! but not really don't worry. WOW! :D but yes coasters and wet paper!!! oh and overly large things like um a penny the size of a pool
Posted by Joolie  on  Thu Apr 27, 2006  at  08:12 AM
i hate styrofoam more than anything in the world. If i see it my hands swear and i sometimes get anxiety attacks. It is everything about it.
Also if things are too soft or mooshy. i dont know. its wierd but i wasnt sure if anyone felt the same.
Posted by Ashaleigh  on  Thu Apr 27, 2006  at  06:29 PM
I have a great fear of dwarves. It started out as just a fear of Oompla-Loompas (Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory). My fear than grew to dwarves in general. I can't find any information on it, so I guess it's more rare and unusual than I previoulsy thought. If anyone can help me find information about my fear of dwarves, it would be much appreciated.
Posted by Rene'  on  Sun May 21, 2006  at  04:29 PM
I have a fear of touching wet hands and feet, I cannot go swimming as if anyone even brushed passed my hands or feet I would feel physically sick. I could not shake hands with someone who had just washed their hands, it's the sensation of wet wrinkled skin, if someone was to even talk about it I would get goose bumps and feel sick. I can touch wet skin if it is not hands or feet. I cannot even rub my own wet hands together or let my feet touch when they are wet. I know of one other person who suffers from this but do not know what it is called or how to get rid of this fear, does anyone know? it is something that has always affected my life.
Posted by shirley  on  Sun May 28, 2006  at  04:16 AM
One of my good freinds is terribly afraid of glue. He is completly terrified of it. we did a glue project in school once and his mom wrote him a note so he could be excused from gluing. he is not afaird of all things sticky just glue. He asked me to please find out what the fear of glue is called and if there is a real phobia of it. Thankyou so much.
-Hills
Posted by Hills  on  Wed May 31, 2006  at  05:38 PM
oh my god....i'm terrified of midgets. i never knew exactly HOW scared of them i was until a few weeks ago i was working (at dairy queen) and one came through the drive thru. i opened the window to take his money and then i realized he was a midget and my heart jsut stopped. i had to look away and i started freaking out but i didnt want to be rude, so i forced myself into taking the money out of his little :( hand...and ugh. as soon as i closed the window i was breathing really hard, my heart was beating so fast, my legs went numb, and my hands got all tingly....i told people about my weird fear and they were all laughing at me lol...i even almost started crying, it was pathetic...but i can't help it.
now the worst part was the midget was in a doctor's outfit!!! that's absolutely my worst fear now...once when i was telling my friend about it she was like, "what if he was a gynocologist?" i almost started crying, now tell me ANYONE who wouldn't be freaked out by that!! ugh....
Posted by stephanie  on  Thu Jun 22, 2006  at  02:56 PM
haha wow somebody posted something about this back in January.. but I have a huge phobia of achilles tendons. I cannot stand to look at them or feel them. I hate how they look & I am always scared they are going to snap. I've been scared of them for a few years & all my friends know.. so when we all watched Hostel & his achilles tendons got cut & snapped or whatever.. I went crazy!! I could not think straight that whole night it grossed me out so bad!!!! Is that like a real phobia??
Posted by Meredith  on  Sat Jun 24, 2006  at  07:39 PM
I've never found anyone with the same thing as me but I hope to oneday so I don't seem as insane! I have the biggest fear of napkins. When someone touches one I can feel my whole body tense up and I get goosebumps everywhere. When my family uses them at dinner I have to go eat in a seperate room. It's the noise they make when someone touches them..it's like the sound of death! Or when someone puts something ontop of a napkin...oh god.
Posted by Sarah  on  Sun Jun 25, 2006  at  05:57 PM
I don't really have a phobia of this, but I can understand where people are coming from when they say they have a phobia of papers rubbing over each other.
Whenever I pick up an old book with dusty pages and they rub together my skin crawls.
It doesn't stop me reading the book... I just have to gather my thoughts briefly, so I don't count it as a phobia.
Posted by Sheba  on  Fri Jun 30, 2006  at  01:45 PM
I'm terrified of stryofoam...if I see it, I'm fine few a few seconds, but I'm so scared its going to just start moving around from the littlest bit of wind and make that awful sound...so I ask people not to touch it around me, and of course they do...I end up screaming, running out of the room crying and I just blank out...not like pass out butnot being able to get myself to say anything or move...I'm dying to find the name for this....
Posted by Sydney  on  Sat Jul 01, 2006  at  05:47 PM
I have a phobia of most dry things, when my hands are dry, and the feel of paper. Help
Posted by Chris  on  Thu Sep 14, 2006  at  06:58 PM
I have a fear of monkeys. I don't trust them. I also have a fear of foam parties. Neither of these have proper terms and I feel as though my fears are not being recognised. This in turn makes me anxious. Anxiety is a form of fear.It's a vicious circle...
Posted by JM  on  Tue Sep 19, 2006  at  01:08 AM
i am afrid of midgets and thought i was the only one thank god there are more people out there that share the same feeling as i get sweaty hand ,cry ,run away i hate myself for it.
Posted by emma  on  Tue Sep 26, 2006  at  01:33 PM
I WAS LOOKING FOR THE WORD FOR 'A FEAR OF MIDGETS!'
Posted by Jeff  on  Fri Sep 29, 2006  at  01:05 PM
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